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Refugees living with dementia: assessing the barriers to healthcare access in crisis-affected populations in Lebanon and Switzerland, and the role humanitarian actors have on addressing them
Get PDFAs life expectancies increase in many places around the world, the prevalence of aging populations has increased. Consequently, increased numbers of people globally, especially in developing countries, have been diagnosed with conditions associated with old age. Dementia, a group of conditions associated with impaired cognitive functions, is among these. Notwithstanding, many developing countries have done poorly with regards to diagnosing and treating dementia, with some cultures not even having a word to describe the condition. (ADI 2022). The lack of a diagnosis and knowledge about dementia for some refugee communities has led to healthcare challenges in their host countries (Corfield et al. 2019). From diagnosing dementia, to providing adequate treatment and adapting humanitarian aid response to allow for equal access to healthcare for these populations, humanitarian actors dealing with refugees have a large responsibility to ensure the well-being of this group. My research looks at the way these groups are currently interacting with healthcare systems in order to explore gaps in healthcare access and the potential ways humanitarian actors are dealing with these gaps. I am focusing my research on Lebanon, the country that hosts the highest number of refugees per capita worldwide according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and Switzerland, a country that hosts a significant number of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region
Migrants sans Papiers: the Impact of Cantonal Program and Policy Discrepancies on Undocumented Migrant Healthcare Utilization in Switzerland
Get PDFWhile Switzerland houses what is generally considered one of the best healthcare systems globally, regional policy discrepancies leave undocumented migrants (UDM) in precarious conditions that threaten the nation’s claim to universal health coverage. Critical analyses of existing UDM-catering structures in different cantons, the Swiss Confederation member states, reveal that local discrepancies in healthcare utilization are functional gradients of cantonal support and public endorsement. Relationships with these authorities are instrumental in steering health outcomes not only with program funding and outreach but also management of studies to better understand UDM health determinants and inform future preventative measures.
UDM services and initiatives operate throughout the nation albeit with urbanity variations. However, while French-speaking cantons, notably Geneva and Vaud, are generally more receptive to migrant populations and transparent with services, German-speaking cantons, including Zürich and Bern, lack public cantonal support which may create underlying currents of distrust among UDM, many of whom hear about services through word-of-mouth. Findings reveal that in place of public hospitals that assume responsibility for UDM in French-speaking regions are non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in German-speaking counterparts. While these NGOs typically develop greater trust with vulnerable populations and can aid individuals with navigating unfamiliar health systems and care treatment, they remain limited in scope in migrant support and outreach due to autonomy from cantonal authorities and thus, finite resources and funding. These results demonstrate the interplay between the different layers of organizational structures within the cantons and pave the way for investigation in how to equilibrate such differences
Anuran species diversity and abundance between three locations in El Valle de Antón, Coclé, Panamá
Get PDFPanama is an incredibly biodiverse country that houses 230 species of amphibians including 188 species of frogs, 35 of which are endemic to Panama. Commonly found in terrestrial and aquatic habitats, frogs play a very important role in the regulation of insect populations and serve as a valuable food resource to other predators. The greatest threat to amphibian species at this time is Chytridiomycosis, a fungal pathogen that infects the skin and often results in death. Many species of amphibians have already gone completely extinct or are extinct in the wild due to the proliferation of this disease. The skin of amphibians is semi- permeable and therefore may be susceptible to pollutants as well. Pesticides have been proven to cause death or malformations in all life stages among different frog species. To study the impacts of suspected pesticides on frog species diversity and abundance, twenty-four riparian transects were conducted in three different locations in El Valle de Antón that were believed to have varying levels of pesticides present. A total of 969 frogs were observed, representing 18 different species, and Shannon-Weiner diversity (H’) was calculated for each location. The location expected to be entirely lacking in pesticide presence had a Shannon-Weiner index value of 1.81 while the other two locations, in which pesticides were present, had values less than 1. The Shannon-Weiner index value was much higher in the location believed to have no pesticides present. Both locations in which pesticides were believed to be present had a higher overall abundance of frogs though the species richness and evenness were lower. The data support the idea that pesticide presence may negatively impact frog species diversity, though further research must be conducted to identify if pesticide presence is directly correlated to a decrease in frog species diversity
What Makes a Family: How an Empowerment-Based Health Care Delivery Model Employs Family Planning to Positively Impact Families in Rural Maharashtra: A Study in Jamkhed, Ahmadneger
Get PDFThe paper examines how an empowerment-based health care delivery model employs family planning services to positively impact families in rural Maharashtra. Family planning services provide those with the ability to become pregnant the option to control their own reproductive lives, whether they choose in favor of or against having children. Contraceptive use advances people’s human rights to choose whether they want to bear children and how many children they want, and people should have the choice of their preferred contraceptive method. The paper examines this issue within the framework of the Comprehensive Rural Health Project’s Jamkhed Model. Through the Jamkhed Model, Village Health Workers (VHWs), the Mobile Health Team (MHT), and Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP) leadership work together to provide necessary primary health care in underserved village populations. The paper approaches analysis through a mix of literature review and interviews with relevant stakeholders. Around the world, healthcare has become a topic of business rather than a topic of how healthcare providers can best serve their patient populations – I hope that this paper will bring to attention the need we have as healthcare providers to help our patients feel comfortable, empowered, and supported in their healthcare experience
Bridging Knowledge Systems in the Peruvian Andes: Plurality, Co-Creation, and Transformative Socio-Ecological Solutions to Climate Change
Get PDFIn the current era of anthropogenic climate change, Quechua farmers in the Peruvian Andes are some of the most impacted by, yet some of the lowest contributors to global warming. Dominant Western systems alone have proven insufficient in tackling the climate crisis, and there have been increasing efforts to elevate and center Indigenous voices and epistemologies when addressing climate change. Researchers and communities are calling for a bridging of knowledge systems, in which Indigenous and Western methods collaborate to co-create innovative solutions to climate challenges. This research sought to explore methods and successes in bridging Indigenous and Western knowledge systems in Parque de la Papa (Parque) in the Peruvian Andes through five main inquiries: (1) What are ideal, strong methods for knowledge co-creation? (2) What are the current methods being employed in the Parque and what are their benefits and challenges? (3) Who are the bridge actors in this process, and what actions do they take to effectuate change via knowledge co-production? (4) What does it mean to truly co-produce knowledge? (5) Is knowledge co-creation actually possible and effective in the face of climate change? To answer these questions, I utilized a mixed-method approach, employing both Western and decolonial tactics, including: wit(h)nessing; semi-structured, open ended interviews; auto-ethnography; and co-created reflection sessions. The findings indicate that best methods for knowledge co-creation engage respect, vulnerability and trust, emphasize embodied knowledge exchange, pay attention to logistics, navigate complexities that arise from language differences, utilize tools and visuals, and validate multiple literacies/engage various ways of learning. Many of these methods are already being impactfully employed in the Parque. Findings also suggest that bridge actors are key in facilitating knowledge exchange, and they effectuate change through engaging and then teaching/sharing what they have learned with others. Successful knowledge co-creation holds different meaning for different actors, but ultimately centers non-dominant systems and complements them with Western knowledges, creates concrete, tangible outcomes and innovations, produces personal changes for individuals involved, and ripples out beyond co-creative processes. This paper concludes that knowledge bridging is indeed effective and important when addressing and finding solutions to issues related to climate change in the Peruvian Andes and globally
Intergenerational Change in HIV/AIDS-Related Stigma in Cato Manor
Get PDFIn South Africa, the world’s epicenter of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, HIV-related stigma and stigma-enforcing stereotypes continue to serve as major health barriers to receiving adequate HIV prevention and treatment. While there continues to be a rise in research and advocacy, there is a need to study HIV stigma through a multigenerational lens that addresses the changing HIV/AIDS stigma in the post-apartheid era. Using qualitative methodology, this study aims to explore the generational differences in perceived HIV stigma between females in their 20s and above 50 years of age (as denoted by “50s+”) living in Cato Manor, South Africa. The study did so through semi-structured interviews with two different-generation female persons living with HIV (PWLH), followed by interviews with 15 female participants in their 20s and 15 female participants in their 50s+ regarding their perception of changes in HIV stigma in the community (n = 32). Through thematic analysis, the data showed that participants, regardless of age, perceived decreased overall HIV-related stigma throughout their lifetime. When separated into different types of stigmas, data found that fear of non-sexual transmission and interpersonal distancing decreased greatly in both participants in their 50s+ and those in their 20s. Sexual and moral judgments also decreased among both groups but to a lesser extent than the fear of non-sexual transmission. Moral judgment persists as a central topic of gossip in conversations among participants in their 20s. A new judgment of negligence has emerged as a dominant manifestation of stigma within interviews with both age groups, which suggests that HIV stigma continues to evolve with time. Finally, the study discusses the potential benefits of a multigenerational approach to monitoring and addressing HIV/AIDS-related stigma
Las barreras sociales, económicas, y políticas que deben enfrentar las mujeres víctimas de violencia al momento de realizar la denuncia y de recibir protección en el Departamento de Maipú, Provincia de Mendoza en el año 2023 / The social, economic, and political barriers that female victims of domestic violence face when reporting violence or accessing the corresponding protection services in Maipú, Mendoza in 2023
No full textEste informe analiza las barreras que enfrentan las víctimas de la violencia contra las mujeres al momento de realizar una denuncia y acceder a los servicios de ayuda en el departamento de Maipú, Mendoza en el año 2023. Realicé este trabajo a través de cinco entrevistas presenciales con profesionales que trabajan con el tema en el departamento. Cada una de mis entrevistadas tiene una profesión distinta y trabajan sea con las víctimas, sea con los políticos, o bien con los propios agresores. Por eso, mis entrevistas ofrecen una mirada amplia de la problemática y me permite investigar las barreras que enfrentan las víctimas desde varias perspectivas. Mi metodología es cualitativa y exploratoria. Dado al tiempo corto de mi estudio, mi diseño es transversal y mi muestra no es probabilística. Para analizar mi pregunta de investigación, utilicé la información obtenida de mis entrevistas y de la revisión bibliográfica.
En el año 2009, Argentina aprobó la ley 26.485, que tiene como objetivo prevenir, sancionar, y erradicar la violencia contra las mujeres. Sin embargo, las estadísticas muestran que aunque esté prohibido, la problemática sigue pasando a un ritmo preocupante. De hecho, en el año pasado las líneas de atención recibieron una llamada cada cuatro minutos por la violencia contra las mujeres. En la problemática existe un subregistro del problema y que, en realidad, la violencia es aún más prevalente de lo que parece en los datos disponibles. Por eso, es importante indagar por qué la ley no logra proteger a las mujeres y explorar qué podemos hacer para mejorar sus derechos.
Mi trabajo investiga estos temas a través de un análisis profundo de mis fuentes primarias y secundarias. Después de introducir mi tema, presento un marco teórico-conceptual que indaga más contexto sobre la violencia contra las mujeres en Maipú. Luego, analizo mis entrevistas. Finalmente, combino mi análisis con mi marco teórico-conceptual para sacar las conclusiones siguientes; la dependencia, la invisibilización, y la revictimización todos son fenómenos que disuaden a las mujeres de realizar una denuncia y de acceder a los servicios de ayuda. Además, estas prácticas generan una falta de conocimiento de los derechos de las mujeres, lo que trae aparejada la vacilación de ellas de pedir ayuda.
This report analyzes the barriers faced by victims of domestic violence when reporting their case or accessing the corresponding support services. My study centers on the department of Maipú, Mendoza in the year 2023. I collected data for my study through five interviews with professionals who work with the issue in Maipú. None of my study participants have the same job, but all work either with victims directly, on policies, or with the aggressors of the violence. My interviews offer a broad view of the problem and allow me to investigate the barriers faced by victims from various perspectives. My methodology is qualitative and exploratory. Given the short time frame of my study, my design is cross-sectional and my sample is non-probabilistic. I use both the information obtained from my interviews and my previous literature review to draw conclusions about my research question.
In 2009, Argentina passed Law 26.485, which aims to prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women. However, statistics show that although this practice is prohibited, such violations still happen at a worrying rate. In fact, last year Argentine domestic violence hotlines received a call every four minutes. What is more, there is an underreporting of the problem and, in reality, domestic violence in Argentina is expected to be even more prevalent than appears in the available data. Therefore, it is important to investigate how and why the established laws fail to protect women and explore what we can do to better defend their rights.
My work investigates these issues through an in-depth analysis of my primary and secondary sources. After introducing my topic, I present a theoretical-conceptual framework that establishes the context of domestic violence in Maipú. Next, I analyze my interviews through four dimensions of analysis. Finally, I combine my analysis with my theoretical-conceptual framework to draw the following conclusions; dependency, invisibilization, and revictimization are all phenomena that discourage victims from filing a complaint or accessing the necessary support services. In addition, these practices generate a lack of recognition of women\u27s rights, which further exacerbates the victims’ hesitation to seek help
El Empoderamiento de Personas Embarazadas y Posparto en Arica, Chile: Perspectivas Indígenas y Biomédicas
Get PDFEl parto, sin importar las tradiciones o los procedimientos utilizados, es un proceso transformador tanto para quien da a luz como para el bebé. Si bien los procesos de embarazo, parto y posparto son experiencias individualizadas, el apoyo de la comunidad y la atención médica cuidadosa pueden marcar una gran diferencia en los sentimientos de empoderamiento y satisfacción en la vida de los pacientes. Este estudio exploratorio cualitativo tiene como objetivo comprender los contextos culturales que influyen en el apoyo disponible para las personas embarazadas y puérperas en Arica, Chile, así como investigar las formas en que este apoyo conduce al empoderamiento de estas personas. Se realizaron seis entrevistas cualitativas abiertas con miembros de la comunidad con un amplio conocimiento del sistema de salud reproductiva en Arica, ya sea a través de su experiencia personal o profesional. Estas entrevistas luego se transcribieron y codificaron temáticamente para determinar los conceptos clave que se anotaron en respuesta a las preguntas de investigación. Aunque el sistema de salud biomédica ha avanzado mucho en los últimos años para brindar un apoyo educativo valioso a la comunidad que beneficia la salud y el empoderamiento de las pacientes embarazadas y posparto, este estudio encontró que el sistema de salud aymara brinda un apoyo emocional y espiritual más completo a las pacientes que, en última instancia, contribuye a mayores sentimientos de agencia y confianza. A pesar de los esfuerzos recientes del sistema de salud biomédico, el fenómeno de la violencia obstétrica está muy extendido y es perjudicial para los sentimientos de agencia de los pacientes. En consecuencia, muchos pacientes, particularmente aquellos con antecedentes indígenas, prefieren confiar en las prácticas indígenas debido a la preocupación por su comodidad y seguridad. Los resultados de este estudio enfatizan la necesidad de una mayor educación sobre la interculturalidad en los hospitales y clínicas, así como la importancia de educar a los trabajadores de la salud en el respeto cultural y los aspectos espirituales y emocionales de la atención al paciente. Los resultados de este estudio también enfatizaron el papel que juega el machismo en el desempoderamiento de las mujeres chilenas y la prevalencia de la inequidad de género en las experiencias posparto de las pacientes.
Childbirth, no matter the traditions or procedures used, is a transformative process for both the birther and the baby. While the processes of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum are individualized experiences, community support and thoughtful healthcare can make tremendous differences in the feelings of empowerment and satisfaction in patients’ lives. This qualitative, exploratory study aims to understand the cultural contexts that influence the support available to pregnant and postpartum people in Arica, Chile, as well as investigate the ways in which this support leads to the empowerment of these individuals. Six open-ended, qualitative interviews were conducted with community members with extensive knowledge of the reproductive healthcare system in Arica, either through personal or career experience. These interviews were then transcribed and thematically coded to determine the key concepts that were noted in response to the research questions. Though the biomedical health system has made strides in recent years to provide valuable educational support to the community that benefits the health and empowerment of pregnant and postpartum patients, this study found that the Aymaran health system provides more comprehensive emotional and spiritual support to patients that ultimately contributes to greater feelings of agency and confidence. Despite the biomedical health system’s recent efforts, the phenomenon of obstetric violence is widespread and detrimental to feelings of agency in patients. Consequently, many patients, particularly those with an indigenous background, prefer to rely on indigenous practices due to concerns for their comfort and safety. The results of this study emphasize the need for increased education on interculturality in hospital and clinic settings, as well as the importance of educating healthcare workers on cultural respect and the spiritual and emotional aspects of patient care. Results of this study additionally emphasized the role that machismo plays in the disempowerment of Chilean women, and the prevalence of gender inequity in patients’ postpartum experiences
Existir y Sobrevivir: El prejuicio que enfrentan los inmigrantes venezolanos en la quinta región de Chile.
Get PDFThis investigation looks at determining the institutional prejudice that Venezuelan immigrants face while being in Chile, specifically in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. Immigration is not a new concept in Chile but in recent years the great influx of Latin American immigrants, including Venezuelan immigrants, has seen a great backlash from the Chilean government and society. This is largely due to the white and European values that have been integrated into Chilean society. Therefore, driven by colonialist and nationalist views, Venezuelan immigrants are deemed as the “other” and have become criminalized and stigmatized by Chilean society. Ultimately leading the Venezuelan community to confront various forms of violence including racism, discrimination, the sexualization of their bodies and institutional prejudice. But how do we determine what these experiences are like?
This investigation was framed by three main concepts: colonialism, nationalism, and racism in order to understand and explain the institutional prejudice found in the Venezuelan immigrant experience. In order to develop this investigation I interviewed two Venezuelan immigrant professionals to understand the institutional prejudice they have had to face since their arrival to Chile. In my interviews, I found institutional prejudice present in the regulation process for Venezuelan immigrants as well as in immigration laws that have played a big role in problematizing migration instead of centering it as a social problem.
Today the Venezuelan community is struggling to be and exist in Chilean society due to the institutional prejudice present. In order for there to be change and to help in the migratory experience of this group, there must be a shift to a more humanitarian focus. Only this way can the Venezuelan community be seen as more than the “other”, as more than a threat to national security. Venezuelan immigrants, as well as other immigrants, deserve to fulfill their human rights wherever they decide to migrate
Hydrological patterns of the Chimborazo Reserve: Streamflow, climate, and glacier recession data show a loss of glacial influence on the southwestern aspect of the Chimborazo volcano, Ecuador.
Get PDFThe Chimborazo volcano of the central Ecuadorian Andean Cordillera (6310 m) has been shown to currently be undergoing extreme glacial recession due to climate change. For this reason, this study sought to analyze climate and glacier recession data in conjunction with streamflow from kryal (glacial-fed), rhithral (non-glacial-fed), and intermediate streams to not only evaluate the current health of Chimborazo’s glaciers, but also determine how hydrology in the region will respond to future climate change. The rate of glacial recession on the volcano was determined using satellite imagery between 1965 and 2019. Measurements of stream elevation, pH, water temperature, width, depth, and turbidity were taken at a total of 11 sites, 4 kryal sites, 4 rhithral sites, and 3 intermediate sites. Climate data was measured over the course of 20 days and used in comparison with stream data. An estimation of overall glacial recession of 42.5% was made between 1965 and 2019, with this value most likely being higher on the southwestern aspect of the volcano where data was collected. Kryal streams were observed to encompass the greatest range of water temperature in any stream-type, with their coldest temperatures between 5.5 and 7.5 ˚C already being too warm for the upper limits of kryal streams. Rhithral streams generally responded to differences in precipitation and air temperature more than kryal streams. However, the kryal stream with a source deeper in the volcano’s rain shadow responded similarly to rhithral streams. Together, these data implied a lower degree of glacial influence, with the least influence farthest into Chimborazo’s rain shadow. Furthermore, it exemplified that there no longer exist truly kryal streams on the volcano’s southwestern aspect. Implications of this data include that streams in this part of the reserve will become more susceptible to climate change in the future, as glacial influence all but disappears